Package numbering or lettering machine



May 28, 1940. w. N. FREED 2,202,762

PACKAGE NUMBERING 0R LETTERING MAC HINE Filed Oct. 51, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 l'uvzmon a a mjimw r64 ATTORNEYS May 28, 1940. w. N. FREED PACKAGE NUMBERING OR LETTERING MACHINE Filed 001:. 31, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 28,1940. w. N. FREED PACKAGE NUMBERING OR LETTERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS May 28, 1940.

W. N. FREED fACKAGE NUMBERING OR LETTERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 31, 1938 y 28. 1940 w. REED A 2,202,762

PACKAGE NUMBERING 0R LETTERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51, 1938 a Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May 28, 1940. w FREED I 2,202,762

PACKAGE NUMBERING 0R LETTERING MACHINE Filed 001'. 31, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 BY wwa ATTORNEYS veyor, or type a chain, rubber belt, metal band, or wire mesh on the line 3-4 of Figure 1.

Patented May 28,

' PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE NUMBERING, 0R LETTERING MACHINE William N. Freed, Rilehlandtown, Pa. Application October 31, 1938:, Serial No. 238,021.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to package numbering or lettering machines and has for an. object to provide a machine which will automatically remove a package from an endless conveyor, print the'number or letter in any desired position or location on the package and return the package to the conveyor at greater speed than hitherto possible in similar devices.

A further object is to provide a machine of I this character which will operate upon packages or containers regardless of shape or sire, which can be adapted to any conveyor channel regardless of height, speed, width or length of the conof the conveying medium such as belt line.

-With the above and other objects in view the,

invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being'understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages 'of the invention. In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure '1 is aside elevation of a package numbering or lettering machine constructed in ac-.

cordance with the invention with portions broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1 with portions broken away.

Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the star wheel, and printing mechanism in plan.

Figure 5 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure cam operated package clamping jaws.

Figure 6 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 11 of Figure 2 showing the star wheel and adjacent parts.

Figure B is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line l8 of Figure 7 showing the slip clutch.

Figure 9 is a detail cross sectional view-taken on the line 99 of Figure 7 showing the brake.

Figure 10 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line Ill-ill of Figure 4 showingv the printing tape spools and feeding mechanism.

Figure 11 is across sectional view taken on the line i l--ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line l2-i2 of Figure 11 showing the ratchet feed and reversing mechanism for the printing tape. Figure 13 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line lI-II ofFi'gure 10.

bular upper view taken 4 showing one of the Figure 14 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a cross sectional view taken on the- Figure 17 is a cross sectional view taken on the line i'|ll of Figure 16'.

Figure 18 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line |8i8 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view taken on the line l9l9 of Figure 1 showing the cam and lever for actuating the printing mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, l0 designates a conveyor of any conventional type adapted to transport packages such as labeled bottles, cartons, filled paper bags, cans, ampoules, tubes, and other containers.

The machine comprising the present invention is disposed laterally of the conveyor and is adapted to stamp a letter or number on containers momentarily removed automatically from the conveyor for this purpose.

In carrying out the invention the machine comprises a. pedestalincluding a basev II having a tuportion loosely receiving a cylindrical standard l2 which is provided at the lower end with screw threads IS. A nut i i is threadedly' engaged with the threaded portion of the standard and bears upon the upper endof the base. By manipulating the nut the standard may be raised or lowered. A bottom frame plate i5 is secured to the upper end of the base in any suitable manner, preferably by screws l6 and extends toward the conveyor. A top plate I1 is secured to the standard preferably by screws l8 and overhangs the conveyor. The top and bottom plates form the frame of the apparatus for supporting the various parts.

Driving mechanism By referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the upper end of the'standard l2 projects above the top frame plate i1 and is uniformly reduced to provide a shaft l9 upon which a gear 20 is loosely mounted. The gear meshes with, and is driven by a pinion 2| which is keyed to a stub shaft 22 disposed parallel to the shaft l9 and journaled at the upper end in a bearing arm Package holding star wheel and operating mechanism therefor As best shown in Figure 7 the package holder comprises superposed circular plates 35 and 36 having respective hubs 31 and 33 connected together by a pin 39. These plates form a package holder in the nature of a star wheel having four recesses, a quadrant apart, to successively receive packages 40 from the conveyor and present the same on the bottom frame plate IS in position to be stamped as will presently be explained. One wall of each recess is provided with a pad 4| of yielding material against which the package, whether it be a bottle, can, or any other type or size of package, is clamped through the medium of a respective jaw 42 likewise faced with a pad 43 of yielding material as best shown in Figure 4.

The star wheel is secured to a stand shaft 44 through the medium of a slip clutch comprising a ball 45, as shown in Figure -7, which engages in a longitudinal groove 46 at the bottom of the shaft and is spring pressed through the medium of a helical spring 41 seated inan opening 43 formed in the hub 31 in the upper star wheel plate 35 and confined therein through the medium of a plug screw 43. Should any package 40 stick and tend to become broken, or to stop operation of the star wheel, the ball 46 will be forced out of the groove 46 and the star wheel thus will remain stationary while the shaft 44 The shaft 44 is journaled at the bottom in a bearcontinues uninterrupted axial rotation.

ing 53 formed on the end of a bracket arm which is secured to the bottom fixed frame plate l5 through the medium of screws 52 or other connectors. A set screw 53 is engaged through one side of the bearing and has a reduced end which engages in a circumferential groove 54- formed in the shaft to prevent endwise displacement of the shaft from the bearing,

For imparting step rotation to the stand shaft 46 and star wheel carried thereby a ratchet wheel 55, best shown in Figure 2, is provided with a hub 56 which is keyed to the shaft 44 as shown at 57 in Figure 7. A rocklever 53 is provided with a hub 59 which is loose on the hub of the ratchet wheel and is retained thereon through the medium of a collar 60. One end of the lever is connected to the beforementioned rock lever 32 of the driving mechanism by a link 6!, best shown in Figure 1. A pawl 62 is pivotally connected to the other end of the lever 53 and is held against the periphery of the ratchet wheel 55 through the medium of a helical spring 33.

The ratchet wheel is provided with four teeth 64 spaced a quadrant apart and in vertical alignment with the central planes of the package receiving recesses in the star wheel as best shown in Figure 2. When the eccentric strap 3i swings the rock lever 42 in one direction the lever 53 will be moved to carry the pawl 62 in a retrograde direction and lodge it in rear of a tooth 64. When the eccentric moves the rock lever 32 in the; I

opposite direction the lever. 33 will be moved to carry the pawl 32, and with it the ratchet wheel 55, a step advance, that is through an arc of 90 degrees, the star wheel simultaneously, during such advance, removing a package 43 from the conveyor l0 and disposing it upon the bottom frame plate 15 in position to be stamped as will later be described. During the next step advance of the ratchet wheel 53 the starwheel will be actuated to return the stamped package to the conveyor. I For preventing accidental movement of the ratchet wheel 63, a brake shoe 65, best shown in Figure '7, is mounted on the end of a screw 33 which is threadedly engaged in a lug 31 which rises from the, end of the top movable frame plate l'|.. I

' The screw may be advanced to apply the shoe with suflicient friction to hold the ratchet wheel stationary when it is not being moved by the pawl 32. The screw is locked in this position through the medium of .a lock nut 33.

The above mentioned link 6| is formed in two packages 40 in place on the star wheel are best shown inFlgurei- The jaws are mounted on the upper plate 33 of the star wheel and are each carried by a respective lever 13 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin II and is provided at the free end with a roller 12 which rides upon the edge of a stationary cam 13. The lever is formed in two the stand shaft 44 and which is fixed at the upper end to a sleeve 11 through the medium of a screw 13. The sleeve 11 in'turn is fixed to a boss 13 which depends from the bottom face ofthe 5 I! and toa-bearing through the plate,

upper movable frame plate bushing 80 which extends through the medium of a screw 3|.

pieces at the roller end, I one of which is provided with a longitudinal slot adjusting screw 15,1 carried The roller of a respective lever 13 rides on to the high side of the'cam 13 just as the container 43 is received in respective recesses of the upper and lower star wheel plates 35 and 33 and moves the respective jaw 32 to clamp the container in the star wheel'and hold the same so clamped until the stamping operation is performed andthe roller rides off of the high side of the cam on to the low side whereupon a controlling spring 32, connected to the lever and to the top plate 35 pulls the jaw back and releases which then gravitates' onto the conveyor.

Stamping device and operating mechanism therefor The. stamping mechanism isshown in detail in Figures 12 to 18 inclusive. In the present em-' bodiment of the invention a plurality of type wheels 33 are mounted upon a shaft 34 which is journaled at the ends in openings in a-casing 35 which is open at the front to expose the type 36 on the wheels. While numerals have been illustrated, for the purpose of printing a serial number on a package or container, letters or mounted for lateral adjustment in an open front the container other characters may be used. The casing 35 is the centermost type wheel casing 01, as best shown in Figure 18, through the medium of an adjusting screw 00 passed through a transverse slot 00 in the casing 01 and threadedly engaged with the casing 00.

The type wheels 02 increase in diameter from as best shown in-Figure 16, and have their peripheries beveled to conform to an arc ofa circle so that any selectcdnu'mber of the type wheels may be used to accommodate the wheels to the contour of any package. The type I with openings .00, best shown in Figure 17, concentric with'the shaft 00, through which openings a pin 0| may be passed, as shown in Figure 16, to lock the wheels in set position for displaying a selected serial number. The outer end of the pin is turned downward along the outer face of the casing 01, as shown at 02 in Figure. 15, and this downturned end is engaged underneath a leaf spring 00 carried by the casing to prevent endwise dislodgement of the pin through vibration or for any other cause. a

The outer casing 01 is provided on the rear wall with a stem 00, best shown in Figures 11 and 17, which is received in a bore inthe outer end of a shaft indicated in general by the numeral 05. A screw 06 having a smooth shank 01, is threaded into the shaft 05 and the shank is engaged through a slot 08 in the stem 00. A helical spring 00 is disposed in the counterbore in rear of the stem. The shank 01 of the screw prevents rotation of the print ng unit axially on the shaft while the spring esup the shock of impact when the printing unit impinges against the package with the inked ribbon in front of thetype, as will presently be explained. The slot 00 per-' mits the printing unit to yield longitudinally of the shaft 05 against thetenslon of the spring 00.

The operating shaft 05 of the printing unit is mounted. to reciprocate in bearings I00, best shown in Figures 4 and 11, formed on the upper end of vertically disposed posts IOI which are slidably iitted-in' openings I02 in the fixed bottom plate I5; as best shown in Figure 1. The lower ends of the posts are connected by a cross bar I03 having a threaded nut I04 centrally disposed between its ends to receive the lower end of a feed screw I05 having a hand wheel I06 keyed thereto as shown at I01 in Figure 11. The hand wheel may be manipulated to raise or lower the posts IOI for adjusting the height of the printing unit to operate on packages of various heights. The feed screw is rotatably mounted at the upper end in a bearing I00 which depends from the fixed bottom plate I5. A screw I00 is threaded through the bearing and has a reduced end engaged in a circumferential slot H0 in the feed screw to mount the feed screw'in the bearing.

The shaft 05 is formed in two sections connected by a turnbuckle III which permits of lengthwise adjustment of the'shaft. At the end opposite the printing unit the shaft is equipped with rack teeth I I2, best shown in Figure 4, which mesh with a pinion KB, of considerable length, which is splined on a stand shaft lll'which extends parallel with the standard I2 and is rotatably mounted in the frame plates I5 and II of the machine.

When the shaft I0 is mechanically turned in one direction as will be explained, the pinion II2 will move the shaft 05 outwardly to impress the serial number on the package. The shaft is immediately returned after the stamping operation through the medium of a helical spring II5 which is sleeved on the shaft 05 between a collar to the end-type whee1s,-.

wheels are provided 3 II6 thereon and the adiacent 11;; I00, as best shownin Figure 4.

The pinion H3 is, secured to the shaft 0,

through the medium of a spline III which engages in a slot III formed longitudinallyof the shaft III, .to permit the pinion being raised and lowered pn'the shaft to accommodate various adjusted raised and lowered positions of the shaft 05 when the printing unit is adjusted to operate on different heights of packages. The pinion is provided with acollar IIO through which a set screw I20 is passed as'best shown in Fi ure 1, to secure the pinion in adjusted positions on the shaft I.

Above the top frame plate II the shaft I is provided with an aicuate crank arm I2I, best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and .19. The crank arm is equipped at the free end with a roller I22 which rides upon a cam I22 which is integral with the hub 20-of the gear 20 below the eccentric 20. The crank arm III is arcuate in contour so that the cam I20 will only bear upon the roller I22 and not strike the crank .arm. The high side of the cam is so positioned as to time the actuation of the printing unit operating shaft 05 to alternate with the step advance movements of the star wheel. Thus after the star wheel has made a step advance to remove a package from the conveyor I0 and place it upon the bottom plate I5 of the machine in position to be stamped, the cam I23 will rock the crank arm I2I to actuate the shaft I'Il and shaft 05 and stamp the serial number on the pack-age. This operation is only momentary, the stamping unit immediately being withdrawn by the before mentioned spring H5 the instant the high side of the cam I20 recedes from the roller I22.

Inked ribbon, reversible spools, and feeding mechanism therefor As best shown in Figures 4, 10, 11 and 12 a a bracket arm I24 is secured to the underneath face of the bearing I00 which is disposed next adjacent to the star wheel, through the medium of screws I25. A spindle I26 rises from each end of the bracket and rotatably supports a respective 'spool I21 to which is secured a respective end of an inked ribbon I20. The ribbon is trained over rollers I20 carried by the outer casing 01 of the stamping unit, best shown in Figure 16, these rollers having guide collars I30 to dispose the ribbon in front of the printing wheels 02, parallel with the axis of the printing wheels, as best shown in Figure 15.

The ribbon is selectively fed from one spool and wound up on the other spool and for this purpose each spindle I26 is equipped above its spool with a ratchet wheel I2I. The ratchet wheel is provided with a key I22 which enters one of a pair of longitudinal grooves I32 in the spindle, as best shown in Figure 12. The spool is equipped with a pair of keys I20 which enter the grooves, as shown in Figure 13, so that the spindle. the spool and the ratchet wheel rotate as a unit. I It will be seen by referring to Figures 10 and 12 that a pair of arms I25 are pivotally connected at their outer ends to the spindles I26 through the medium of pivot pins I20. The inner ends of the arms are pivotally connected together through the medium of a pivot pin I21 which is engaged through a slot I20 in the bearing I00, as best shown in Figure 11, and threaded into the stamping unit operating shaft 00.

Each arm I25 is equipped with a dog I20 which is slidably mounted in a bore I00 of rectangu- 4 v v v acceptsv lar cross section, in the'respective arm as best bon I28 against the package or containenthe shown Figure 14-. 'A spring Hi is disposed type impressing the ink on the package or concounterbore in rear re in rear of thedog, as best shown in Figure.10, to normally hold "the ';dog engaged with the respective ratchet wheel ill. Normally only (meat the dogs is in operative position, the other dog being withdrawn from engagement with itsratchet wheel and locked in release position through the medium of a screw |l2,best shown lnF sure 14, which projects from the dog and is equipped with anut I which may be screwed up tight against the arm I" to hold the dog disengaged" v a -As best shown in Figure 12 whenthe shaft 9 is reciprocated it carries the arms II! to with it to the dotted line position to move the operating dogin back of one of the teeth of its ratchet wheel ill, then when .the beforementioned spring ill returns the 7 line position the dog-will advance the ratchet wheel one tooth and rotate the ribbon take-up spool a step while simultaneously the released dog permitsthe respective spool to feed ofl the ribbon. In order to compensate for the increase of length of the arm I36 as it moves from a rectilinear position transversely of the shaft ii to an inclined position, the, arm is formed in two parts as best shown in Figure 10, the arm having an extension I 44 which is engaged with the pin I31 and slidably fits ina counterbore I in the arm. A helicalspring I46 is seated in the of the extension to absorb shocks as the extension slides back and forth in the counterbore. I

Operation The package, bottle, can" or other container proceeds on the conveyor belt into a cut-out in the star wheel and as the package enters the cut- .out the moveble jaw-42 is closed to clamp the container by the rise of the'roller 12 on. the high side of the stationary'cam 13 during rotary movement of the star wheel. The container gripped between the pads 4i and pad 42 of the jaw is carried by the rotating star wheel through a 90 degree angular advance into position on the fixed frame plate 38 in front of the stamping unit. The stamping operation is now performed, the stamp unit being moved forwardly by the shaft as which is actuated by the cam I23 on the gear hub 28 impinging against the arcuate lever arm i2i. After the stamping operation the star wheel again rotates 90 degrees, returning the container to the conveyor belt, as the jaw 42 is 'moved to released position by the roller l2 riding on to the' low side of the cam 13. The roller remains on the low side of the cam through an angular advance of 180 degrees to hold the package or container itself.

jaw in open position and at the end of this movement the above cycle of operations is repeated.

Should the package or container not enter the cut-out of the star wheel properly the slip clutch releases, that is, the ball 45 is moved out of the groove $6 in the shaft 44 against the tension of its controlling spring to .disconnsct the star wheel from the power and permit the star wheel to remain stationary while the shaft 46 continues rotation. This prevents anyserious damage to the mechanism of the machine as. well asto the The stamping wheels 83 force the inked ribto the package or container ing unit is next moved into operative tion.

rwardly being made.

shaft "to the full- By referring to Figures 1 and 3 it that a hand wheel ill-is fixed on one power shaft 26. ing over of the end of the This hand wheel permits turnmachine while adjustments are From the above description it is thought" that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is: s 1. Container branding apparatus comprising the combination of an upright pedestal, superposed frame plates projecting laterally from the pedestal, means adjustabLv. mounting the upper frame platerelatively to the lower frame plate to accommodate the device to operate on various heights of containers,'a step-actuated star wheel carried by the lower plate adapted to dlspose a container on the lower plate, vertically adjust- .able stamping means carried by the lower plate serial number, letterorother- .be seen adapted to impinge against the sides of the containers, means to vertically adjust said stamping means and means for reciprocating the stamping means alternately with each step-actuation of the star wheel, said means and arranged to permit ing means.

adjustmentxof the stamp- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the star wheel is circuinferentially adjustable and means are provided for circumferentially adjusting the same.- I I 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the step-actuation of the star wheel includes means for circumferentially adjusting the star wheel.

4. Container branding apparatus comprising the combination of an upright pedestal, superposed frame plates pedestal, means adjustably mounting "the upper frame plate relatively to the lower frame plate to accommodate the device to operate on various heights of containers, a step-actuated star wheel carried by the lower plate adapted to dispose a container on the lower plate, stamping means carried by the lower plate adapted to impinge against the sides of ing means being adjustable axially of and transversely' to the axis of said star wheel, means ,to

adjust said stamping means and means for re-' projecting laterally from the the containers, said stamp-- ciprocating the stamping means alternately with each step-actuation of the star wheel, said "means being constructed andjustment of the stamping means axially of said star wheel. I 9 g '5. The device of claim 4 wherein the star wheel is circumferentially adjustable. and means are provided for circumferentially adjusting the star wheel.v

-6. The device of claim 4 wherein the step-actuation of the star wheel includes meansfor circumferentially adjusting the star wheel.

wnusm N.

arranged to permit ad-v 

